“Come again? Repeat that report at once.”
“Y-yesh, sir…t-the forces sent to invade the Loda Kingdom…they’ve retreated.”
In the innermost chamber of the white-walled palace in the center of the Cranzel Empire’s capital city.
In there, the man entrusted to be the empire’s supreme commander of its army was being grilled. The one doing the grilling was none other than the absolute monarch ruling over the empire, Emperor Suldan Cranzel.
The emperor was still young. Which was only natural given that the previous emperor died and he ascended the throne not so long ago when he was just 7 years old. In fact, he had had just turned 10 years old just a few days ago.
“…you retreated?”
“Of, of course it was a strategic retreat! Our enemy is known as a major power! In that light, it’s only to be expected that their capital would have amazing defense. Fortunately, we only lost a relatively small number of soldiers, so we could reorganize and mount another attack soon…!”
“Hmm, I see. I did hear that defense is more solid in a capital.”
“Exactly! That being said, it doesn’t matter how hard they try to defend. Our forces are guaranteed to triumph over them!”
The supreme commander frantically explained so.
The young emperor didn’t understand war and strategy all too well in the first place, so he simply nodded along. The man beside him, however, decided to interject.
“But I believe you also sent in 4 Giant Soldiers during the attack on their capital, did you not? Are you saying you retreated despite having 4 of them among your numbers?”
This man was Minister Zerus. He was the elder brother of the emperor’s own mother. Moreover, he was the one in charge of all administrative matters on behalf of the young emperor.
Being questioned by a man of such power, the commander’s expression noticeably changed.
“Y-yes…”
“Hoh? Your Majesty, this is a grave problem.”
“Hm? How so?”
Minister Zerus declared so but the young emperor only tilted his head.
“The Giant Soldiers are the strongest weapons our empire has. Deploying them in battle has earned us a record of consecutive wins. The Giant Soldiers’ power is now known far and wide. Nations and rulers would surrender to us without so much as a single skirmish, simply out of fear for them. And those we had already occupied wouldn’t even dare stage a rebellion. What then do you think will happen if news of their defeat is spread? Yes. People wanting to oppose us will make themselves known one after another.”
“Hmm! That’s grave indeed! Oy, you! How could you make such a mistake!?”
The Emperor suddenly shouted.
“A-apologies…!”
All the supreme commander could do was bow his head desperately.
It was all unreasonable from the start, he thought. Despite being regarded as the supreme commander, it wasn’t like he was in actual command of the empire’s forces in the battlefield. That was assigned to different generals. His role was rather deciding the overall strategy the entire army was going to take based on the reports that came his way. Moreover, due to the absurd commands from the emperor, the imperial army was invading multiple countries simultaneously.
By all rights, splitting their forces up this much was a bad move. Not only were their numbers divided, their supplies were as well. It was a headache figuring it all out.
The one to answer the emperor’s question in place of the supreme commander was Minister Zerus.
“Your Majesty. It is impossible for the Giant Soldiers to be taken down. A defeat therefore can’t be their fault. It can only be because of the incompetence of the supreme commander.”
Upon hearing the minister’s words, the emperor declared something right away.
“Hmm, off with his head then. I despise incompetence. Our empire has no need for it, and we have no need for that man. Take him away.”
“Y-your Majesty! P-please wait! It isn’t my role to make individual decisions in the battlefield! I shouldn’t be held responsible for whatever our generals do with our troops in a faraway country, especially not if it means death penalty!”
Despite being restrained by the imperial guards, the man protested so at the top of his lungs.
However…
“Zerus, it’s almost snacktime!”
“Precisely so, Your Majesty. Today’s snack is sweet chocolate.”
“Yay! I want to eat soon!”
The emperor’s interest has already moved on to another subject.
“Y-your Majestyyyyyy!? Ghh! Your Majesty, you mustn’t let yourself be deceived by that man, that Zeras…! That man is manipulating you to his will and is scheming to make the empire his own! It’s to that end that he wishes to get rid of people like me who would stand in his way! Please, I beg you, please open your eyes to the truth!”
“You’re so noisy! Don’t make such a fuss during my snacktime!”
“Y-your Majesty…”
The emperor rebuked so and made the supreme commander go all quiet. With a look of despair on his face, the supreme commander was then quietly dragged away.
By the way, at this moment in time, not even the supreme commander knew that the Giant Soldiers they had absolute confidence with and the pilots who piloted them were all captured by the enemy…
“Come again? Repeat that report at once.”
“Y-yesh, sir…t-the forces sent to invade the Loda Kingdom…they’ve retreated.”
In the innermost chamber of the white-walled palace in the center of the Cranzel Empire’s capital city.
In there, the man entrusted to be the empire’s supreme commander of its army was being grilled. The one doing the grilling was none other than the absolute monarch ruling over the empire, Emperor Suldan Cranzel.
The emperor was still young. Which was only natural given that the previous emperor died and he ascended the throne not so long ago when he was just 7 years old. In fact, he had had just turned 10 years old just a few days ago.
“…you retreated?”
“Of, of course it was a strategic retreat! Our enemy is known as a major power! In that light, it’s only to be expected that their capital would have amazing defense. Fortunately, we only lost a relatively small number of soldiers, so we could reorganize and mount another attack soon…!”
“Hmm, I see. I did hear that defense is more solid in a capital.”
“Exactly! That being said, it doesn’t matter how hard they try to defend. Our forces are guaranteed to triumph over them!”
The supreme commander frantically explained so.
The young emperor didn’t understand war and strategy all too well in the first place, so he simply nodded along. The man beside him, however, decided to interject.
“But I believe you also sent in 4 Giant Soldiers during the attack on their capital, did you not? Are you saying you retreated despite having 4 of them among your numbers?”
This man was Minister Zerus. He was the elder brother of the emperor’s own mother. Moreover, he was the one in charge of all administrative matters on behalf of the young emperor.
Being questioned by a man of such power, the commander’s expression noticeably changed.
“Y-yes…”
“Hoh? Your Majesty, this is a grave problem.”
“Hm? How so?”
Minister Zerus declared so but the young emperor only tilted his head.
“The Giant Soldiers are the strongest weapons our empire has. Deploying them in battle has earned us a record of consecutive wins. The Giant Soldiers’ power is now known far and wide. Nations and rulers would surrender to us without so much as a single skirmish, simply out of fear for them. And those we had already occupied wouldn’t even dare stage a rebellion. What then do you think will happen if news of their defeat is spread? Yes. People wanting to oppose us will make themselves known one after another.”
“Hmm! That’s grave indeed! Oy, you! How could you make such a mistake!?”
The Emperor suddenly shouted.
“A-apologies…!”
All the supreme commander could do was bow his head desperately.
It was all unreasonable from the start, he thought. Despite being regarded as the supreme commander, it wasn’t like he was in actual command of the empire’s forces in the battlefield. That was assigned to different generals. His role was rather deciding the overall strategy the entire army was going to take based on the reports that came his way. Moreover, due to the absurd commands from the emperor, the imperial army was invading multiple countries simultaneously.
By all rights, splitting their forces up this much was a bad move. Not only were their numbers divided, their supplies were as well. It was a headache figuring it all out.
The one to answer the emperor’s question in place of the supreme commander was Minister Zerus.
“Your Majesty. It is impossible for the Giant Soldiers to be taken down. A defeat therefore can’t be their fault. It can only be because of the incompetence of the supreme commander.”
Upon hearing the minister’s words, the emperor declared something right away.
“Hmm, off with his head then. I despise incompetence. Our empire has no need for it, and we have no need for that man. Take him away.”
“Y-your Majesty! P-please wait! It isn’t my role to make individual decisions in the battlefield! I shouldn’t be held responsible for whatever our generals do with our troops in a faraway country, especially not if it means death penalty!”
Despite being restrained by the imperial guards, the man protested so at the top of his lungs.
However…
“Zerus, it’s almost snacktime!”
“Precisely so, Your Majesty. Today’s snack is sweet chocolate.”
“Yay! I want to eat soon!”
The emperor’s interest has already moved on to another subject.
“Y-your Majestyyyyyy!? Ghh! Your Majesty, you mustn’t let yourself be deceived by that man, that Zeras…! That man is manipulating you to his will and is scheming to make the empire his own! It’s to that end that he wishes to get rid of people like me who would stand in his way! Please, I beg you, please open your eyes to the truth!”
“You’re so noisy! Don’t make such a fuss during my snacktime!”
“Y-your Majesty…”
The emperor rebuked so and made the supreme commander go all quiet. With a look of despair on his face, the supreme commander was then quietly dragged away.
By the way, at this moment in time, not even the supreme commander knew that the Giant Soldiers they had absolute confidence with and the pilots who piloted them were all captured by the enemy…
